Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1887-05-23
BIG STEAMERS IN COLLISION.
The Celtic Crashes Into the Britannia
Off NamtUcket-SeveralP Persons Killed.

On Thursday, May 1e, at 5::,o p. m, during O
fog. the British steamer Celtic, OF the White star
Line, from Liverpool came into collision with the
British steamer Britannia, OF the same line from
New York for Liverpool, doing considerable dam
age. The Britannies boats were lowered and
filled with women and children. Several men
forced themselves into the boats also An
examination showing the damage to the Britain
mic would not cause her TO founder the boats with
In hail were recalled. Some had already reached
the Celtic, which took the occupants on board
Several steerage passengers who were lounging
about ait at the time OF the collision were killed
and several others injured. Both the Britannia
and Celtic arrived at the bar, outside New York, At
O'Clock Sunday morning: The Celtics passen-
gers were landed last night f. Story Smith, OF
Boston, passenger on the Britannia tells the fol-
lowing story of the collision: ''There was a very
dense fog at the time OF the collision, and horns
were blown continually. Between half-past 5 and
6 p IN on Thursday We heard the fog-horn OF
another vessel went on deck and peered eager
~ into the mist. There was a great cOmmotion
on our deck. ran to the port bow, but 1t was not
for several minutes that I could see anything.
Then l distinguished the large black huh Of
to slow up were given on our vessel. We
were proceeding at about regular fog
speed while the other steamer seemed TO have
little more Roadway on. AS the approaching YES
sci discovered Us she changed her course some
what and struck us obliquely aDaft the storage
again. but with less force each time, and finally
she slipped along under our stern and came up
partly on the other, the starboard side There
heard none given, for half dozen boats were
manned and launched. The steerage passengers
rushed for the boats, but We're driven back by the
officers and crew and the ladies allowed TO embark
first. Three bOatlOads were taken to the Celtic and
the fourth was ready when Capt. Perry announced
that there was no danger OF sinking, as the dam
age was confined to the fourth compartment,
which was full OF water. This quieted the pas
SengerS."
Some OF the steerage passengers OF the Britannia
say that when the boats were launched the crew
acted shamefully and attempted TO monopolize
them, and that the captain drew pistol TO enforce
his orders. They also say that the fog was not so
dense but that II proper precaution had been OBJ
served the collision could have been avoided Mrs
Robinson. mother OF little girl killed. said that
AFTER her child was killed t was represented to her
that the little one was alive and doing we'll At
the time she was attending to her son George,
whose arm had received compound fracture from
the broken rail. When she next inquired she was
told that the girls body had been flung overheard
The collision occurred about 80 miles from the
mainland. about OF Nantucket. The Britannia
was on her course, heading about east by north,
while the Celtic was evidently lost, and had her
Britannia on the port side at the mizzen rigging,
and only few feet aStern OF the after-end OF the
boiler ROOM The mizzen rigging, iron-work and
all was wrenched from its faSten1ngs, the rail was
torn from its foundation far aft as the 1igger.
mast, and the after turtle-back was carried into
the air and overheard as though ii was made OF
pasteboard. AS the bow struck the pump 1t caught
In Storage passenger whose name is not known
as he irresolute In his excitement, was unable to
get out OF the way in time, crushed him against
the frun and cut the body completely I'm two A
little girl, OF about eleven years named Robinson
who was with her mother and brother on her way
TO England for visit, was also crushed by the
bow, her face and breast being split open through
the middle.
The exact number OF killed and injured is NOT
yet clear. Some accounts said that four adults
and little girl We're killed; Others that the killed
were one man and three women. -Four OF the in
jured were taken to ST. vincent's Hospital Ia New
YORK last night. They were a boy, George Robin
son; Patrick Burke, aged A, OF Wilkesbarre, Pa,
who was taking his Wife on a visit to Ireland:
VIM. LAWYER, aged Is, who was on his way from
St Louis TO Ireland, and a young woman named